Alr so ik yall gona hate on me for this but i think thumbpulling (which im going to refer as TB) works. ill explain to you what i know about it. The method was developed by Jordan Wood, he already deleted the videos about the TB routine, but i took mental notes so all good
disclaimers: sorry for bad english, and also id like to let you know that im not formed at all in this area, this is superficial knowledge only, im not a doctor or anything, so i encourage you to make your own research.
Also im doing this in my school and if leave invognito mode my progress will be deleted so sorry if the argumetns arent as elaborated.
What is THUMBPULLING?
Thumbpulling is a Looksmaxxing technique for improving your forward growth, maxilla and other areas. Basically you will place your thumbs in your palate and pull sideways. Ill explain better later on.
So my argument starts with the MSE device (Maxillary skeletal expander), which is a device that will expand your maxilla, as the name says. The way it works, is by putting a device in the roof of your mouth (the palate) attached to your mollars and premollars, then u have to put a tiny screw into the device and pull it, that is gonna apply pushing force (about 10-20 pounds (4.5–9.1 kilograms) per side, or 20-40 total. But can make up to 50-100 pounds (22.7–45.4 kilograms) if the sutures not open), Isaacson & Ingram (1964, Angle Orthodontist), Lee et al. (2016, Korean Journal of Orthodontics) And the force applied is NOT continouos, its just a burst of force applied, and then gradually decreases as tissue adapts. Even tho, towards the last phase of the MSE the device does use a passive retention force (2-4 pounds(1kg-1.8kg) after some hours, 0.1-1 pound(0.0445kg, 0.5kg) a day or two after) , its a force lower than the active force (the one that uses a screw).
Heres a graphic example because my explanation skills are chopped :
You wear this device for 3-6 months to let your bones stabilize, and your palate will be 5-10 milimeters wider. Also u activate it 2 times a day.
So, where does TB take a part in here?
Thumbpulling, as the MSE, its about applying presure on specific points in your palate to widen your maxilla. The principles are the same, the difference are the means.
As i said before, the MSE has about 10-20 pounds of pressure applied on the roof of your mouth when activated, which means thats about enough force to move the soft part of the palate. Well, a single thumb, on an average male , can push 15-25 pounds (6.8kg -11.3kg) or also 30-50 pounds total (13.6–22.7 kilograms)), (https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/1/194)
Which is clearly more than enough to move your maxilla. Of course, u cant be using all of your force all the time because you are gonna get tired, but the change is possible, even if u can only use your thumbs, thats what im trying to proof.
The counter, of course, is that it doesnt have any passive retention to keep the tissue expanded. HOWEVER, we do have mewing, which is not near to the MSE resting force, but is the most similar thing i could think about. When mewing the tongue applys 1 pound of force or 0.5 kg.
Routine
This routine must be done 6-9 times a day and consists in 3 excercises. U must make sure to not press against the teeth.
1st Excercice:
You are gonna place your both of your thumbs above your third mollar (if u have one), push against the wall sideways and slightly upward, then draw your finger across the walls of the SOFT palate all the way to your canine tooths, there you must stop. The excercise must be 10 seconds long and you must repeat 3 times. (sorry for the bad drawing) APPLY EQUAL PRESSURE ON EACH SIDE
View attachment 210458
2nd excercise:
You are going to push in 3 different points of your soft palate, its going to be only a sideways pressure on the walls of the palate. The first point is above ur third molar (if u have one) and you are going to hold that for 15 seconds. Second point is in the middle part of your soft palate,, your gonna hold for 10 seconds. Third point is in the beggining of the hard pallate, before the canine, ur gonna hold for 7 seconds.
APPLY EQUAL PRESSURE ON EACH SIDE
View attachment 210461
3rd excercise: regular mewing 24/7
If u cant fit both thumbs
Heres a video i made cuz its hard to explain without a graphic example. also sorry for being chopped
Downsides and pros
*PROS:
*Its a softmax, if u do it well u wont have any problem neither with symetry or malocclusion.
*U wont have to spend anything but time
*Overtime u will be having results
*Theres no diastema risk (having a gap between ur front teeth)
*CONS:
*It's WAY slower than MSE
*It takes patience and being consistant
*U can lose progress quickly if u arent consistant (if i remember well, if u dont do it for 1 week, it equals to a 14 day progression lose)
*If done wrong is gonna mess you up
*If ur sutures are closed im sorry but u wont change anything without MSE
My experience:
After a couple of weeks i noticed my fingers had more room for my thumbs, i also noticed a better e-rickett line but that was probably due to chin tucks lol. Also my negative canthal tilt improved like 1 degree or so, but i didnt track any of that.
Conclusion:
Thumbpulling is a good softmax to do if you can't or don't wanna buy a MSE, or don't wanna get that weird gap between your teeth. However, it is a method that can and will take a lot of time to get the results wanted, and its not gonna do magic but it does work and will improve your face.
Of course, its not better than getting a maxillary expander, which is a safer and overall better method to expand your palate.
Anyways i thank you for reading this and have a good one. If u have any questions ill try to answer.
